University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Supervised Undergraduate Student Research Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects and Creative Work Fall 12-2000 A Walk through the Great Smoky Mountains Richard Lee White University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj Recommended Citation White, Richard Lee, "A Walk through the Great Smoky Mountains" (2000). Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj/440 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Supervised Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Work at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM SENIOR PROJECT - APPROVAL Name: .Bi~b~l-.1-...:_W.h\]-c:_-----------------------------------­ College: 'B_~.lYJ.ei'2Ji~Y!J!r11~ir.~_tl_ Department: As.c...~~.!Ltt't-------------- Faculty Mentor: ~f~~$~~~_~~ _______________________________ _ PROJECT TITLE: ~B:,_J&).0~fu£~_~~_..6r.!~:t_$~~cl2.~tl.ttu~~ _______ _ I have reviewed this completed senior honors thesis with this student and certify that it is a project commensurate with honors level undergraduate research in this field. / Signed: __ __ _ _~~ 5c _,=_________________ , Faculty Mentor Date: l~~lL~~ _____________ _ Comments (Optional): "A Walk through the Great Smoky Mountains" Abstract This project consists of three main sections that involve a hiking journal, supplementary trail information and research, and a slide show of pictures taken while hiking each of the trails. The writing of the journal was very time consuming because its contents detail many of my observations, thoughts, and insights while hiking. It specifically includes observations concerning the trails themselves, the views they afford, and even the people I spoke with on the trail. When the journal and the supplementary trail information are combined, their contents reach over 40 pages. The additional information provided in the project details some of the cultural , environmental, and geological history of the trails. Short anecdotes are also included that increase understanding of the importance and notoriety of each trail. Lastly, and perhaps the most interesting portion of the project, slide pictures are presented that give an up close view of the trails, their termination, and interesting sights. These three sections taken as a whole provide an excellent understanding of ten of the most famous hikes contained within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, as I have worked to provide at least a simple understanding of these trails and their histories, I have come to realize a much more important end. Throughout my years at the University of Tennessee I have always wanted to explore the treasures of the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park; however, it was not until this senior project that I was afforded such a comprehensive opportunity. The actual experiences of walking the trails and enjoying the park first hand have made the project worthwhile. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on a mountaintop and knowing you are the only one for miles. The trails provide an escape from our hectic, busy lives. It is to this end that I hope this project encourages each person to spend a weekend exploring this vast wilderness and enjoying it to its fullest potential. It truly is a magnificent creation that is worth the trip. Therefore, I have included directions to these trails on a separate sheet and encourage anyone who has questions to speak with me at anytime. ... Directions to Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 1. Abrams Falls Trail Follow Alcoa Highway (129) towards Maryville. When the highway splits, take Hwy. 321 towards Townsend. Drive through Townsend and continue for a few miles. Turn right onto the Laurel Creek Road (signs are posted) towards the Cades Cove Recreation Area. Follow Cades Cove Loop Road a few miles until a sign on the right denotes the parking area for the Abrams Falls Trail. 2. Clingmans Dome Take 1-40 East to exit 407 (GatlinburgiSeviervilleJPigeon Forge). Turn right off the exit and continue until you reach US 441. Follow signs towards Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Drive through Gatlinburg and past the Sugarlands Visitors Center and Park Headquarters. This road becomes Newfound Gap Road. Continue several miles until signs for the Clingmans Dome road appear on the right. Turn right on this road and follow for 7 miles to the parking area. 3. Chimney Tops Take 1-40 East to exit 407 (GatlinburgiSeviervilleJPigeon Forge). Turn right off the exit and continue until you reach US 441. Follow signs towards Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Drive through Gatlinburg and past the Sugarlands Visitors Center and Park Headquarters. This road becomes Newfound Gap Road. Continue several miles on this road and you will actually pass the Chimney Tops picnic area. Just about a mile past this area there is a parking area and signs for the Chimney Tops trailhead. 4. Mount Sterling Take 1-40 East to exit 451 (Waterville Road). Turn right off of the exit and follow this road to the first four way stop. Turn left here and you will be on old NC 284. Continue along this road for 6.7 miles. It is very slow going and you will fee1like you will never get there. 5. Charlies Bunion Same as directions to the Chimney Tops; however, you will pass the Chimneys and continue until you reach the signs for the Newfound Gap parking area. This area is on the left and provides an entrance to the Appalachian Trail. 6. Mount LeConte Same as directions to the Chimney Tops; however, you will pass the Chimneys and continue until you reach the signs for the Alum Cave Bluffs parking area. This parking area is on the left and is usually teeming with cars and is very difficult to miss. 7. Ramsey Cascades Follow above directions to Gatlinburg and then travel on US 321 5.9 miles out of the city. Enter the park on the Greenbriar road to the right. The road changes from paved to graveL After 3.2 miles, a sign for Ramsey Cascades denotes a left turn over a small bridge. Continue along this road to the Ramsey Cascades parking area. 8. Spence Fie1d!Thunderhead Follow the directions to the Abrams Falls Trail; however, after turning onto the Laurel Creek Road, drive slowly and look to the left for the Lead Cove trailhead. There is an area large enough for two or three cars in front of the trail. This trail leads to the Bote Mountain Trail as well as the Appalachian Trail. 9. Gregory Bald Follow the directions to Abrams Falls but pass this trailhead. After you reach the Cades Cove Visitors Center, turn right onto Forge Creek Road and then another right onto Parson Branch Road. This is a very rough gravel road. Exercise caution when driving on it. Continue several miles until you reach a parking area on the right and a trailhead on the left denoting the Gregory Bald Trail. 10. Mount Canunerer Take 1-40 East to Exit 443 (Foothills Parkway). Turn right off the exit until it ends at US 3211R0ute 32. Turn left on this road and continue south. US 321 turns right while 32 continues south. Stay on 32 towards the Cosby Campground area. Follow the remaining signs to the Cosby Campground and signs denote where the Low Gap Trail begins. "A Walk through the Great Smoky Mountains" Abrams Fal\s-8/19/00 Experience along the Trail: This was actually a very tiring hike, not because of the trail or the grade, but because we coupled it with an eleven-mile bike ride around the Cades Cove Loop in the same day. This area of the park is very heavily traveled since cars are allowed to drive around the entire loop and enjoy the Cove; however, since we were at the parking grounds at 7:30 A.M., we were able to ride our bikes around the area and encountered less than five cars. About half way through the bike ride we arrived at the Abrams Falls parking area and hid our bikes in an area next to Abrams Creek. The Abrams Falls hike was very relaxing and enjoyable. The trees provided a lot of cover along the trail and the trail was taken care of very well. Compared with other trails I have visited in the Smokies, the Abrams Falls Trail seemed to be smoother for the most part and didn't have as many huge boulders. The trail provided some opportunities to see the underlying bedrock, which is Cades Sandstone. The hike to the falls was about 2.5 miles and was not strenuous at all . It was definitely a family­ oriented hike that is short enough for everyone to enjoy. The trail was flat and actually bordered the Abrams Creek for much of the time. When we were very close to the falls, we could hear it but not really see much of it. This is because you must hike down a rather steep grade to get to the falls. Upon rounding our last turn on this short decline, we saw the beautiful falls as well as the broad pool that the falls flows into. At the falls there was a 20-foot plunge over sandstone rocks . There were plenty of areas around the falls to relax and take a break while sitting down. The mist coming off of the falls was refreshing as we sat very close to the falls . My fiancee , Gabrielle , and I walked around the falls for a little while and took some pictures of the area as well as of the trail.